Now it's time to repair some splits in the top. The mid seam under the fretboard's end shrank a little near the front edge. With a combination of planing some stock off the tight part and swelling the gap closed with water, I made a good tight fit again. I got to use my tiny Japanese plane. (My friend calls it 'Barbie's Dream Plane'). If you clamp two sticks down with paper in the glue joint, it will be easier to remove later. With glue in the joint, I pullet it together with a C clamp on the temporary sticks. They came off with the help of a thin pry bar or chisel and then I sanded the top to make a nice tight joint just like the original.
